Rolling or bending machine



C. M. YODER. ROLLING on BENDING MACHINE.

APPL |CAT |0N FILED DEC. Il. l9l6.

I Patented' May 3,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l,

c. M. YODER.

ROLLING "oir BENDING MAcHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. Il IMI V Patented May Y3, 1921.

3 SHEETS-sainz.

HHIIIIIII...

C. M. YODEH.

ROLLING 0B BENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. II. l-9I6- Patented May 3, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IIIIIII CARL M. YODEB, F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ROLLING 0R BENDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3f 1,921..

Application led December 11, 1916. Serial No. 136,351.

T0 aZZ wwmz'tmay concern.:

Be it known that I, CARL M. YoDER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new 'i' and use ul Improvements in and Relating to Rolling o-r` Bending Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionA relates to a machine for bending or rolling metal, particularly of the type adapted to bend or roll metal sheets or plates into automobile fenders,' barrel.

bodies and other articles.

of the bending shoe'.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this character comprising'few parts and capable of rapid operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for rolling or bending a section of metal into curvilinear shape.`

Another object of the invention is to provide means for rolling or bending a section of metal both longitudinally and transversely. l

Another object of the invention is to provide means f or rolling or bending a section of metal both longitudinally and transversely to any shape or degree of curvature. vWith these and other objects in View the invention consists of the parts or combination or combinations of parts hereinafter set forth.

For the purpose of illustration I have, in

the accompanying drawings, shown and herein described one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a rolling tion. f

Fig. 2 is `a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is afragmentary elevation looking at the rear side of the machine.

vFig.A 4 is an end elevation of the machine. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary sectional views.

Fig. 8 is a section (enlarged) on the line Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, the roller 5b being omitted.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views illustrating the operation of the bendinfir devices.

Figs. 13 and 14 are pers "ctive views of a section of metal in different mation.

Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate modified forms of bending devices. .F Fig. 17 is a section on the line 17-17 of iof.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a frame or stages of` for- Asupport preferably comprising a bed ll` mounted on legs 1b. 1c indicates a pair of standards fixed in any suitable manner to the bed lag' preferably by bolts 1C. The bolts lc permit the standards lc to be removed at any time whereby certain elements of the inachine can be removed and elements of a different size or shape substituted. At 1d theJ standards 1a are cut away or provided with guides to receive pairs of bearing blocks or' members 2, 2. This form of construction permits the upper shaft to be raised 'and lowered for purposes to be later set forth. l

3, indicate a pair of shafts supporte at their opposite ends b the bearing blocks 2, 2', respectively.v The purpose of the shafts 3, 3', will be later described..

44 indicates as an entirety the mechanism, which, for purposes of illustration, I prefer to use for driving the shafts 3, 3. Of this mechanism, 4a indicates a shaft supported at its opposite ends yin bearings 4a', 4a', supported on the machine bed la. 4", 4", indicate a pair of driving elements, preferably pulleys, loosely mounted on the shaft 4"L and adapted to be driven in opposite directions by suitable belts (not shown), one of which `may be crossed. 4 indicates clutch devices preferably interposed `between the pulleys 4b, 4", and adapted to be locked to either f pulley in a well known manner, whereby the shaft 43L may be driven in one direction or the other, as desired. 4d indicates a gear fixed to the shaft 4*" and meshing with a gear 4 fixed to the adjacent end of the shaft 3 to drive the latter. 4', 4t indicate two gears,

preferably of the same size, fixed to the shafts 3, 3', respectively, and meshing with each other, whereby the shaft 3 is driven in the opposite direction to, but at the same speed as, .the shaft 3. The clutch devices 4 are preferably operated by a lever 4,

fulcrumed ori, the bed 1a in any suitable A't'oie end the lever .4S is con? manner. nected through a link 4h to a hand lever 4 "by which the operative can quickly and eectively control the operation of the machine. It will be understood that l when the' clutch element 4c is in mid-posiprise a pair of coperating rollers 5, 5b, fixed vtransverse linesvinto circular or curvilinear shape and also bend or roll it on longitudinal lines into the desired cross sectional f shape.

The bending devices 5 preferably comto the shafts 3, 3', respectively, and a shoe 5? which 'co-acts with the rollers 5a, 5b. I prefer to so correlate the rollersa, 5b, and shoe 5, that the section of metal will be bent or curved upwardly; in that event the shoe 5 is positioned at any predetermined point relative to the plane of that portion of the metal which at any time is passing between the rollers 5, 5b, and preferably, at an angle thereto, according to the curvature to be im parted to the section of metal.

The bending devices 5a, 5b and 5c. may be' of anyV desired shape., In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9,

devices are also shaped 'at 5a, 5b, to vide the metal section with beads.

10, l1' and 12 I have illustrated bending devices which will bend orroll the metal into conveXed-concavo shape; in Figs. 15 ,and 16 the bending devices 5, 5b, are shaped at 5a', 5b', to provide a fiat portion at either side of the metal section; in Fig. 16, the bending ro- It Ivill be understood that where bending elements of the shape illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16 are used, aI shoe 5c, having a similarly shaped ed e, is preferably provided.

he shoe 5c is preferably swingable about the axis of the bending device 5a, as will be later described, so that the metal sections can be bent on transverse linesto any desired degree of curvature and the operations of bending and rebending metal sections can be rapidly carried on. The roller 5a is preferably provided at its opposite ends with collars 5ax which serve as guides for the metal section as it passes between the rollers 5a, 5". The roller 5a may be removably fixed tothe shaft 3 in any suitable manner; I prefer to provide the shaft with akey or spline 3 which-lits into an axially extending recess formed in the walls of the opening through the roller 5a. 5bx indicates collars arranged on the shaft 3 at either side of the roller 5al and adapted to be secured to the shaft, preferably by set screws 3b, to pre'- vent movement of the roller endwise thereof. The key 3L serves to secure the roller 5a to the shaftso as to drive the roller therewith, but permits the roller to be removed and a roller of a different size or shape substituted wit-li roller 5a.

upon the disassembly of one of the collars 5b* and adjacent standard 1C. The roller -5b is preferably fixed to the shaft 3 by a key or spline 3a which fits a recess formed in the inner wall of the roller 5b. The key or spline 3a serves to connect theroller 5b to the shaft 3 so as to be driven thereby, but permits the roller to be moved endwise for removal pur oses. ings, the ro ler 5b is disposed between the collars .5ax and is thereby `prevented from moving endwise; as a result, no additional devices are required to maintain the roller 5b in ,alinement and coperative relationship The shoe 5 is shaped to substantially conform to the surface of the roller 5a and is positioned rearward of the lroller so as to engage the metal section immediately after it passes between the rollers 5, 5b. The normal position of the shoe 5c is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 17 and when it is in that position the metal may be passed through between the rollers Without being acted upon by the shoe; but by movingthe shoe upwardly it will be disposed in the` path ofthe metal and cause the same to be bent or rolled, as shown. in Figs. 11 and'12. By mounting the shoe to swing on the axis of the roller 5a it may be disposed at different angles relative to the plane of the metal 'section between the rollers` 5, 5, -according to the desired curvature to be imparted to the metal Section and atl the same time mai-ntainedl at the same distance from the surface of the roller 5.

6 indicates a frame for adjustably or swingably supporting the shoe 5c. The frame Ypreferably comprises a pair of ring members 6, 6a, loosely mounted on the shaft 3, and a member 6" which rigidly connects the ring members-6a together. Each ring 62l is provided with an arm 6al to which the adjacent end of` the connecting member 6b is secured and also provided with a plurality of gear teeth 6c for a purpose to be later described. The 'shoe 5c is 'fixed in any de- AS shown in the drawsired'manner to the connecting member 6b,

preferably by bolts 6d, which'y permit the ready removal of the shoe. The member 6" may be concaved throughout its central portion to conform to the shapeof the shoe 5. The opposite -ends of the supporting member 6" may be connected to'the arms 6a of the rings 6aL by devices, indicated as an entirety at 7, which provide for the adjustment of the member 6b both vertically and horizontally and through it the adjustment of the shoe 5, so'that the latter may be adapted forl different thicknesses of metal. The devices 7 preferably comprise pairs of screws 7'L Awhich have screw-threaded engagement with openings formed in either end of the connecting member 6b and adapted to engage the adjacent arm 6a', and a after the screws 7 are turned in one direction and the'other to elevate or lower the connecting member 6"; then the bolt. 7" is screwed down tightly, thus locking the connecting member 6" to the adjacent arm 6.

-The slot 7" being elongated, it permits the connecting member 6" to be moved horizontally or toward and from the rollers 5, 5", so that the shoe 5c can be adjusted toward and from the adjacent roller, as well as vertically. By operating the screws 7 and bolt 7", the member 6" may be adjusted vertically-at right anglesto the tangential plane in which the shoe is supported-and also inclinedrelative to such plane.

8 indicate as an entirety means for operating or swinging the shoe 5 about the axis of .the roller 5. These means preferably comprise a rock-shaft 8 supported at its opposite endsin suitablebearings provided in the standards 1", 1, a pair of gears 8" fixed to the shaft 8 and meshing with the teeth 6 provided on the ring members 6, and a handle 8 suitably connected to the roel/{- shaft 8 for operating it. The handle S may consist of a pair of rods 8" connected to and extending radially from thegears 8" and provided at their outer ends wlth a cross bar 8*i adapted to be grasped by an 0perative.' 8 indicate collars ixed in any suitable way to the shaft 8, near its oppo,

I site ends, and by engagement with the inner walls of the standards 1, prevent endwise movement of the shaft.

9 indicates a spring connected at one end to some Vstationary part of the 'machine and at its opposite end to one ofthe rods 8. The spring 9 operates to pull the operating means 8 upwardly and through it normally to maintain the bendin shoe 5 in normal position, as shown in ll lines in Fig. .5. By this construction the shoe is normally positioned at ay point below the section of metal as it isv fed throughbetween the rollers 5, 5", and thereafter may be movednpwardly for engagement with the underside of the metal section for the purpose of bending it to the desired degree of curvature.

10 indicates a pairof guides carried by the frame 6 rearward of and in -line with the collars 5' provided on the 'adjacent roller` 5. The guides 10 are arranged to coperate with the. collars 5ax so as to guide the metal rearwardly while being bent b the shoe` 5c. The guides 10 are preferab y secureddn position by boltsl 6*.

11 indicates a. shoe which is arranged in front of the rollers 5, 5", and adated to support and guide the section o Vmetal therebetween. The front edge of the shoe 11 is preferably shaped so' as to fit'close against the circumferential surface of the roller 5.

11, 11, indicate a pair of guide members which coperate with the shoe 11' to guide the section of metal between the rollers, 5". The guide members 11 are sultably supported by devices, indicated as an.entirety at 12. The guides 11 are preferably provided with inwardly extending flanges 11" to which the opposite ends of the shoe 11 are secured in any well known manner. The supporting means 12 preferably comprise a cross bar 12 having elongated slots 12" formed in its opposite ends adapted to it over bolts 12c which have screw-threaded engagement with an adjacent part of the frame 1. By loosening the bolts 12c the cross bar 12 can be raised or lowered as desired. 12d' indicates apair of plates, each preferably integrally formed with the adj acent guide 11. The plates 12d are preferablyformed at opposite sides with elongated slots or recesses 12. through which the bolts 13 extend. The bolts extend into screw-threaded openings 13 formed inthe cross bar 12 and serveto secure the plates 12d thereto. vBy. loosening the bolts 13 and moving the plates 12d horizontally the guides 11 can be adjusted toward and from each other. `Where considerable adjustment ls'req'uired, the bolts 13 can be removed from one pair of openings 13 and inf serted in another pair' to space the guides 11;1 at the proper distance relative to each ot er.

, 14 indicates as an' entirety devices for raising and lowering the shaft 3, whereby the roller 5" can be elevated should it become necessary to separate the rollers to remove'a'section of metal therefrom. These devices preferably comprise a pairof arms 14 pivotally mounted at their'lower ends upon the shaft 3. At their upper ends the arms 14 are provided with openings 14" to receive eccentrics 14"'. Each eccentric 14 I Brotating the ecthe shaft 3 the operation of the eccentric will cause the shaft 3 to move upwardly,

but due-to theengagement ofthe. bearing blocks 2 with the guides 1, such o eration willv cause the arms 14 to swing aterally about the shaft 3.-

15 indicates the devices for operating the eccentrics 14f. These devices vvpreferably comprise handles 15 having ring members 15" which surround the eccentrics 14C. Atri* one side the walls of each ring member 15" are split, as shown at 15C, to permit the ring 15" to be positioned over the 'adjacent eccen- Fil' tric 14C.. 15d indicates a bolt which extends through an opening formed ina lug fixed to the wall of the ring member at one side of the split and having" screw-threaded engagement at its inner end withA an opening formed in a lug fixed to the wall of the ring member on the other side of the split. The bolt 15d serves to draw the split wall together and thereb secure the ring member to the eccentric. `he handles 15 are preferably connectedtogether by a cross bar 15e in order that both eccentrics will be operated simultaneously. 16 indicates a locking member Awhich serves to lock the handles in normal position with the roller/5" in coperativeA relationship to the roller 5. The locking member preferably comprises a swingable latch having a suitable notch 16 which is adapted to engage a shoulder 17 preferably extending laterally from' the adjacent standard 1c. I preferably provide two locking members 16 and pivotally connect them to the opposite ends or' the cross bar 15e.

In operating the machine, the section of metal ispositioned between the guides 11 and upon the shoe 11. I preferably use metal sections which are flanged along their opposite ends and of a width slightly greater than the distance between the guides11, As a result, the front end of each metal section is first forced down between the guides so as to permit it to extend between and be fed to the bending elements 5, 5. After a metal section is positioned for feeding, the lever 4* is operated to throw the clutch into engagement with one of the pulleys 4b. This operation will rotate the rollers 5, 5b, which in turn will draw orfeed the metal section forwardly; at the same time, the bending elementc is swung upwardly for coaction with the bending elements 5, 5b, as shown in Fig. 11; as the metal section feeds forwardly the elements 5, 5b, operate to bend it on-longitudinal lines and the element 5c operates to bend the section on transverse lines, into the shape shown in Fig. 13, these operations taking place substantially simultaneously. When it is desired to impart to the section of metal a greater curvature, as shown for instance in ig. 14, the metal section is re-fed between the bending elements 5, 5b, 5, the bending element 5c being moved upwardly a slight distance (see Fig. 12) each time the metal section is fed through the machine. This operation is repeated until the metal section is curved to the desired extent.

By providing the machine. with two oppositely driven pulleys 4b and a clutch for engagement with either one, am enabled toy rotate the rollers 5, 5b, in either direction. Accordingly, in the use of my machine it is not necessary to feed each section of metal forwardly, remove the section and then start it through the machine again;

but by shifting the clutch F and rotating the rollers in opposite directions, the metal section can be moved rearwardly until its front end is between or in position to be fed between the rollers 5, 5b. By operating the machine in this manner the metal section 'may xbe rapidly fed forwardly and back- Awhere accurate duplication of sections is essential, a stop 17 may be provided in the path of the handle 8c to limit the swinging movement thereof. The stop 17 preferably comprisesa bolt having screw-threaded engagement with the walls of an oiening formed in a bracket 17 fixed to the loed 1. The bolt may be turned so as to adjust the height of its head and thereby stop the handle 8c at any desired point. The bolt 17 may be locked in its adjusted position by a nut 17C.

To those skilled in the art of making apparatus of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative, and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, theI ,combination of a pair of rollers, a pair of shoe to swing about the axis of one of said rollers, said Yswingable shoe being shaped transversely substantially similar to the shape of said rollers. y ,l

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of rollers, a pair of shoes arranged at opposite sides of said rollers, each disposed in a plane extending tansgentially to the periphery of one of said rollers and coperable with said rollers to bend a section of metal on transverse lines,

means -for xably .supporting one of said shoes, 'means for supportingthe other shoe to swing about the axis `of one of said roll- 55 metal yon Atransverse lines, and means ers', said swingable shoe being shaped transversely substantially'simila'r to the shape of said rollers, and devices for adjusting the swingable shoe on its support relative to the a periphery of the adjacent roller.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair ofrollers, a shoe arranged at one side of said rollers and extending therefrom, said shoe being coperable with said rollers to bend-a section of metal ontransverse lines, and means for adjusting said shoe at an angle to a plane ,extending tangentially of the adjacent roller.

4. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a pair-of rollers, a shoe ar- "ranged at one sideof said rollers and extending therefrom, said shoe being coper' able with said rollers to bend a section of metal on transverse lines, means for supporting said shoe toswing about the axis of one of said rollers, and means for adjusting said shoe at an angle to a plane extending tangentially of the adjacentv roller.-

5. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a roller, a second roller, a

shoe coperable with said rollers to bend the section of metal on transverse lines, meansfor supporting said shoe in a lane substantially tangential to one of said rollers, and

means for adjusting s aidshoe perpendicularlyto the tangential plane` in which it is supported.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a convex roller, a concave roller, coperable with said convex roller to bend a section of metal on longitudinal lines, a shoe shaped transversely substantiallysimilar to the shape of said rollers, and coperable therewith to bend thesection of metal on transverse lines, and means for supporting said shoe in a plane substantially tangential to one of said rollers, said supporting means being swingable about the axis of the last mentioned roller, and said shoe being adjustable. perpendicularly to the tangential plane in which it may be supported by said supporting means.

described, the

7. In a machme-of the class combination of a convex roller, a concave roller, coperable with said convex roller to bend a section of metal on longitudinal lines, a shoe shaped 'transversely substantiallyT similar-to the shape of said' rollers, vand cooperable therewith to bend the sectionfof or supporting said shoe in a plane substantially tangential to one of said rollers, said supportin means'being swingable aboutthe axis 0% the last/'mentioned roller, and said A shoe being adjustable at angles to the tan.-

gential plane in which it may be supported by said supporting means.`

8. In a machine of the class described, thev `combination 'Qta convex roller, a concave roller, `coperable with said convex roller to bend a section of metal on longitudinal lines, a shoe shaped transversely substantially similar to the shape of said rollers, and coperable therewith to bend the section of metal on transverse lines, and means for supporting said shoe in al plane substantially tangential to one of said rollers, said f supporting means being swingable about the* axis of the last mentioned roller, and said shoe being adjustable toward and from said rollers, and atan angle. tothe tangential plane in which it may be supported by said supporting means.

9i In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a frame, a pair of shafts mounted therein, one of said shafts being movable toward and from the other shaftl in a planecutting their axes, a pair of sup-A ports, swingably mounted on the stationary shaft, and eccentrics mounted 'in said supports for moving the movable shaft to- Ward and from said stationary shaft.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a 4pair of rollers, a shoe arrangedy on one side of said rollers .and cooperable therewith to bend alsection of metal on transverse lines, a separate shoe arranged on the opposite side of said rollers for guiding the metal section thereto, said shoes being shaped transversely substantially similar to the shape of said rollers and disposed in a plane or planes extending tangentially to the periphery of one of them,

means for supporting, sa1d shoes, the supporting means for said bending shoe being swingable about the axis 'of the last mentioned roller, means for adjusting said guid-v ing shoe vertically, and means for adjusting said bending shoe perpendicular to the tangential plane in'vvhich it may be supported by said supporting means.

11K. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a pair of rollers, a shoe arranged on one side of said rollers and cooperable therewith to bend a section of metal on transverse lines, a separate shoe arranged on the opposite side of said rollers for guiding `the metal section thereto, said shoes ported by said supporting means.v

12. In a machine of the class descr1bed,.

the combination of a pair of standards pro- -vided. with guides, a pair ofjroller carrying shafts one-of which is slidably mounted in said guides, and means for raising and Lowering said slidably mounted shaft, said means comprising a pair of arms swingable on the other shaft and eccentrlcs mounted 1n sald arms and engaging said slidably mounted shaft.

CARL M. YODER.

Witnesses:

H. 0. YODER, GEO. B. Prrrs. 

